While Ethos’ co-owners still worked for Ultimate, they were misappropriating “as much confidential and proprietary information as possible,” Gregory Beobide said in an affidavit, to “minimize their own costs in developing their new shop.”

Matthew Beobide declined to discuss the lawsuit and referred inquiries to Ronald G. Crispi, his attorney. Crispi was not available to comment.

Matthew Beobide worked for Ultimate for 13 years and managed the Bedford Hills shop. Zimdahl worked for Ultimate for four years and managed the Mount Vernon shop.

They continued to work for Ultimate until Oct. 6, when Gregory Beobide confronted them about their new business.

Ethos was established three months before and operated at 785 Bedford Rd., Bedford Hills, near Ultimate’s shop. Its website “history” states it has been providing auto body repair services “for over 30 years.”

Gregory Beobide claims that his nephew contacted Assured Performance Network, a certification company, and represented his uncle as a co-owner of Ethos, according to the complaint, to transfer original equipment manufacturer certificates to the new business. Then he took the OEM plaques.

His former employees hijacked Ultimate’s website, according to the complaint, replacing it with a “ghost” website that had no contact information and incorrect location information.

He claims his nephew pirated Ultimate’s social media sites, listing his own cell phone number as the contact number on Google Business and Yelp and taking the Facebook page offline.

Ethos recruited Ultimate employees, according to the complaint, and a painter, helper and body work man left to work for Ethos.

Gregory Beobide also accuses his nephew of taking vendor contracts and a customer list and downloading professionally taken photographs of work being done in his shop. The photos were then allegedly used on Ethos’ website and Facebook page and posted on the Katonah Chamber of Commerce website.